Who doesn’t love a good bean burrito (or as we call them, burros)? They are one of our FAVORITE easy Mexican meals that we’ve made our entire lives.
Burritos have been a family favorite for decades, so much so that we called great-grandma “Grandma Bean Burro”. She was famous for them, and now we have her bean burrito recipe to share with you! Trust us, not all bean burritos are created equal.
What makes these burritos extra good is the way the beans are cooked, a little milk and shortening makes them super smooth, and the taco seasoning adds just the right flavor. They are perfect for busy nights, and you can make a bunch at once for quick meals later.
If you love easy Mexican inspired dinners like this, be sure to try Cheese Quesadillas and Cheese Crisps.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- A handful of ingredients. Most of these ingredients are things most have on hand, especially if you eat a lot of Mexican food, as we do!
- All from scratch. If you are feeling adventurous, we do have recipes for homemade Canned Refried Beans, Taco Seasoning, and Flour Tortillas.
- A fast meal. This bean burrito recipe is so easy to make during the week for a quick dinner or lunch. They can be made in under 30 minutes with just a few simple steps.
Bean Burrito Recipe Ingredients
- Refried beans (1 can, 30-ounce): Creates the creamy, hearty base of the burritos. Use store-bought or homemade Refried Beans.
- Crisco shortening (¼ cup): Makes the beans extra smooth and rich.
- Milk (⅓ cup) – loosens the beans for a silky texture.
- Shredded cheddar cheese (1 cup): Melts into the beans for extra flavor. Or use Mexican cheese blend, Monterey jack cheese, or vegan cheese for vegetarian burritos.
- Taco seasoning (1 teaspoon): Adds bold, classic Mexican flavor. Use store-bought or homemade Taco Seasoning.
- Flour tortillas (12, soft taco size): Wraps around the filling and hold everything together. Use store-bought, homemade Flour Tortillas, or already cooked tortillas.
- Additional shredded cheddar cheese (1½ cups): Adds melty goodness inside each burrito.
- Add meat, optional: Add shredded beef, pork, or chicken (Carne Asada, Sweet Pork, Carnitas)
- Optional toppings: Shredded lettuce, diced onion, fresh cilantro, diced chilies, green bell pepper, diced tomatoes, avocado, sour cream, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, or Salsa
How to Make Bean Burritos
FILLING. Add the refried beans, shortening, and milk to a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat. Make sure to stir frequently until smooth. Stir in cheddar cheese and taco seasoning. Salt and pepper to taste.
TORTILLAS. Cook the flour tortillas according to the package directions. Keep warm in a towel or tortilla warmer until ready to use. (Warming your tortillas beforehand will help them roll more easily.)
ASSEMBLE. Add ⅓ cup of the bean mixture to the center of a tortilla, then sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Fold in the edges of the tortilla toward the center, then roll up, tucking in all of the fillings, and serve seam side down.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Stir the beans frequently to prevent sticking.
- Keep tortillas warm for the perfect roll and to avoid cracking.
- Do not overfill the burritos to make rolling easier.
- Serve with your favorite salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for a little something extra.
- These burritos are one of our favorites to freeze for easy meal prep! We like to have a few on hand for a quick lunch.
Burritos Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Refried Beans
- 1 (30-ounce) can refried beans
- ¼ cup Crisco shortening
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
To Assemble
- 12 uncooked soft taco size flour tortillas
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add the beans, shortening, and milk to a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Stir in the cheddar cheese and taco seasoning.
- Cook the flour tortillas according to the package directions. Keep warm in a towel until ready to use.
- To assemble the burritos, add ⅓ cup of beans to the center of a tortilla, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of cheddar cheese. Fold in the edges of the tortilla toward the center, then roll up, tucking in all of the filling.
Notes
- Stir the beans frequently to prevent sticking.
- Keep tortillas warm for the perfect roll and to avoid cracking.
- Do not overfill the burritos to make rolling easier.
- Serve with your favorite salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for a little something extra.
- These burritos are one of our favorites to freeze for easy meal prep! We like to have a few on hand for a quick lunch.
- Oven. Remove the plastic, but then rewrap them with only the foil. Bake at 400°F for about 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 8-12 minutes.
- Microwave. Thaw, poke holes with a fork, wrap with a damp paper towel, and heat for 1-2 minutes until warm throughout.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Wrap each burrito with plastic again with aluminum foil and freeze for up to 6 months.
Oven. Remove the plastic, but then rewrap them with only the foil. Bake at 400°F for about 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-12 minutes.
Microwave. Thaw, poke holes with a fork, wrap with a damp paper towel, and heat for 1-2 minutes until warm throughout.
Wrap each burrito in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave.
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This recipe was first shared March, 2020.
Need substitute for crisco please
I would use lard, if I couldn’t use crisco. There are other substitutions, though I haven’t tried for this specific recipe; like butter or coconut oil, but I wouldn’t use those in the beans.
Is there a healthier substitution for the Crisco?
I used avocado oil and it worked out well
This bean burrito recipe is super easy to make! It turned out delicuous and I love that I can make this ahead of time!
Just made these burritos, and they’re a hit! This is comfort food at its best. So good! I added more cheese.
These reheated beautifully. Just as you said they would
My kids love burritos and refried beans but I never thought to try bean burritos. This recipe is quick to put together and super easy. I love it!
Haven’t tried this recipe, but I often eat a bean and cheese burrito for lunch….my go to lunch. I am protein deficient, so eating a bunch of beans works for me. I’ve never had the beans with milk and crisco before. I think I will give it a try…I wonder why the crisco? Can it be made without?
You could probably make it without… they just add a little extra flavor and creaminess. It takes them to the next level, in our opinion! 😉
my girls love bean and cheese tacos, but I think I’ll surprise them with these burritos 😋 love the idea of freezing!
Freezing is a game changer. Makes for such quick meals! Hope you all enjoy!
I really love recipe! Can’t get enough
These look so simple and delicious! A win, win when you’re a busy mom! I think all of my kids would enjoy these. I love that they can easily be frozen to reheat later. We are often running to different activities after school, so these could also be taken on the go! And homemade is so much better than the frozen stuff at the store! I also think the tortilla warmer you have looks awesome and better than warming in the microwave which I typically do! Next time we are looking for a quick and easy recipe… this is it!
Delicious and easy.
I read the comments and I guess it’s just me that doesn’t know this but wasn’t sure if I am supposed to microwave these after assembling or is that only if you’re reheating?
Thanks in advance!
I usually bake in the oven (to warm it all up) after assembling, but you could microwave. That is also a good option.
Made them late snacks last night – my husband & I both love them! Thank you for sharing another great recipe.
This was such a delicious recipe! My kids loved this!
Love these! Easy and tasty!
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Delicious
Hi Kristyn, what can i use instead of the shortening?
You could swap it for butter or even a type of oil… coconut oil would be a great substitute.
The bean filling of these are absolutely delicious. I love that I can make several and put some in the freezer for a quick meal or snack.
These are so simple and so delicious! I love making a bunch of these ahead of time so they’re even easier to get ready for a meal!
The best quickest meal around. Who doesn’t like cheesy bean burritos? You can pear these with something else or eat alone.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
We make these a couple times a month!! The beans are restaurant quality, better even & it’s the easiest, quickest meal to make!
Do you really use a taco size tortilla for your burritos?
I did, because we wanted them small, but you can use whatever size you like 🙂
Thanks for answering my question so quickly! If I use the larger tortilla, how many will i need? Just bought the stuff i need to try these. can’t wait to taste them.
You are welcome! Honestly, it just depends on how much you fill them or how many you are trying to feed. I would just buy a pack of tortillas, based on your need & you you can put a lot of beans or not too much to make as many as you need.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.